_Creon_: Afar from Thebes there is a frowning grove 530 Near the well-watered vale of Dirce's fount. And there a cypress lifts its giant head And holds within its evergreen embrace The trees around. Here stands an ancient oak And spreads its branches dark with clustering mould. One side is torn by time's destructive hand; 535 The rest, with roots decayed and falling, hangs Supported on a neighbor's trunk. Here stand The bitter laurel, rustling linden trees, The myrtle, and the alder destined soon To sweep its oarage on the boundless sea. Midway, a mighty pine its smooth trunk lifts 540 Against the rays of Phoebus and the winds, And with its heavy shade it overwhelms The lesser trees; for, with its spreading boughs, It stands, the giant guardian of the wood. Beneath this pine there springs a gloomy pool 545 That never saw the sun nor light of day. An oozy swamp surrounds the sluggish pool. Here did the agéd priest direct his steps; Nor was there need to wait; the gloomy spot Supplied the shades of night. A trench is dug, Where brands are kindled, pluck'd from funeral pyres. 550 The priest is shrouded in a mourning pall, And waves the bough; his dark robe sweeps the earth. And now, in squalid garb and wrapped in gloom, The priest advances, with his hoary locks 555 Encircled by the yew-tree's deadly leaves. Black sheep and sable oxen, backward driven,[3] Are sacrificed. The fire devours the food, And the living entrails quiver in the flames. The shades he calls, and him who rules the shades, And him who guards the dark Lethaean stream. 560 A magic rune he mutters o'er and o'er And fiercely chants the charm which either lures The shifting ghosts, or forces them to come. He burns the victims whole, and fills the trench With sacrificial blood, and snowy milk, 565 And, with his left hand pouring, mingles wine; Again he chants, and, bending to the earth, With stronger words and frantic, summons up The manes. Loudly bayed the hounds of hell; And thrice the hollows gave a mournful sound; 570 The whole earth trembled and the solid ground Was rent asunder. Then the priest exclaimed: "I have prevailed, for strong the words I spoke; The deep and gloomy realm of chaos yawns, And for the dwellers in the home of Dis A way is opened to the world of light." The whole wood shrank away; its leaves erect In horror stood, the mighty trunks were split, 575 And all the grove was smitten with amaze. The frightened earth crouched back with hollow groans, As if unwillingly she saw the deeps Of Acheron assailed; or else herself, That back to life the dead might find a way, With crashing sound her close-wrought barriers burst; 580